Last night my brother-in-law showed me some pictures from two Christmases ago (2008). At the time I weighed around 225 lbs., had a nearly shaved head, wore XL shirts, had a 36″ waist, and a major double chin. I didn’t think I was fat, people tell me now that they didn’t think I was fat, but I WAS FAT!

I was sucking down full calorie soda all day long and the sugar was building into major amounts of fat in my body. My body fat percentage was around 33%. I was 28.5 years old, and looked AT LEAST thirty- wow!

18 months later, I have given up regular pop, eat vegetables and like them, watch what I eat, run 3 miles every other day, do lots of sit-ups and push-ups daily, and have grown fond of riding my bike often instead of driving. I now weigh around 165 lbs., have a body fat percentage of around 11%, grew my hair out, shaved my chest (tmi), have amazing muscle tone, and look all of about 18 years-old!

Some tell me that I care too much about what shape I am in or that I am too anal about sticking to my fitness plan. I couldn’t care less! All I have to do is look at that picture of me from 18 months ago, and know that it has all been worth it and that all of the work I continue to put into it will be worth it to keep up the great shape I’m in.

Being healthy, being fit, and looking good doesn’t JUST happen. You have to make a decision that you no longer want to be unhealthy. You have to make a decision to be fit. And you have to make a decision to look good.

Once you make those decisions, you have to make a decsion to work towards it. You have to make a decision to make a plan in order to work hard. And then you have to make a decision, that no matter what, you’ll stick with.

Being healthy is all about decisions and not about fate or complacency. You hold the keys in your hand to a healthier better looking you. So get off the couch, put down the Hostess, and DO SOMETHING!

Throughout the day, as you eat food gets stuck and sits on your teeth for long periods of time- particularly the sugar that causes cavaties. Sugars from sports drinks, soft drinks, juices, and alcohol can saturte your teeth also causing major tooth decay.

As adults, and unlike sharks, we only get one set of teeth and we need to keep them clean ans healthy so we don’t lose them.

Cavaties can cause infections that can cause you to have horrible breath, get very sick, and even die. Not to mention that a deeply damaged church is extraordinarly painful.

So after every meal, or at least several times a day, you should rinse your mouth with water, floss (especially problem spots), and brush your teeth. You’ll look better, feel better, and be healthier.

If you don’t know every day when you are going to workout; you probably won’t.

Pick the time that works best for you, then stick with it.

Mornings are typically best because once you get going, you are awake and alert and ready for your day. Plus a good workout in the morning will keep your metabolism bump’n all day long.

If you wait until after work or school, chances are that you’ll be too tired or stressed out to motivate yourself to follow through.